About two weeks after winning approval as one of only a handful of federal test sites, researchers from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi are putting their unmanned remote-controlled aircraft, commonly known as drones, in the air this week for another round of test flights.

External pilot Michael Caciennne controls a drone over mud flats at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how unmanned aircraft system can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

A test drone throws up sand as it lands on the mud flats at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how unmanned aircraft system can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

A test drone throws up sand as it lands on the mud flats at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how unmanned aircraft system can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Crew chief Jack Edward Esparza, right, helps prepare an unmanned aircraft system for testing at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how drones can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Texas A&M Corpus Christi researchers prepare a unmanned aircraft system for testing at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. The drone weighs about 85 pounds and has a wing span of almost 13 feet. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

A test drone is launched by catapult as a trail plane follows on a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how unmanned aircraft system can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

A test drone with a wing span of almost 13 feet flies over a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how unmanned aircraft system can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Crew members carry a drone with the wing span of almost 13 feet following a test flight at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how unmanned aircraft system can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

A test drone with a wing span of almost 13 feet flies over a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how unmanned aircraft system can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Crew chief Jack Edward Esparza, right, helps prepare an unmanned aircraft system for testing at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how drones can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Tech specialist Marty McGregor, left, Internal pilot Matt McCurdy, center, and mission commander John Huguley, right, monitor an unmanned aircraft system for test flight at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how drones can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

External pilot Michael Caciennne, left, and crew chief Jack Edward Esparza, right, prepare an unmanned aircraft system for testing at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi research team is conducting tests to help determine how drones can be integrated into existing airspace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas A&M Corpus Christi researchers prepare an unmanned aircraft system for testing at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. The drone weighs about 85 pounds and has a wing span of almost 13 feet. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas A&M Corpus Christi researchers prepare a unmanned aircraft system for testing at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. The drone weighs about 85 pounds and has a wing span of almost 13 feet. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas A&M Corpus Christi researchers prepare a unmanned aircraft system for testing at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. The drone weighs about 85 pounds and has a wing span of almost 13 feet. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Ian Gates, right, helps other Texas A&M Corpus Christi researchers prepare a unmanned aircraft system for testing at a ranch near Sarita, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. The drone weighs about 85 pounds and has a wing span of almost 13 feet. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)